Hurricanes can be devastating for Florida homeowners, resulting in wind damage, water damage, and other effects on their homes and properties. One of the largest storms to ever hit Florida, Hurricane Ian, ripped through a good portion of the state causing billions of dollars in damage.
For these reasons, it’s very important that Florida property owners carry hurricane insurance for life-threatening storms like Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene, through their insurance policy. While not all people in Florida hold this type of insurance coverage, many do and expect their insurance to cover hurricane damage as a result.
When your insurance company doesn’t pay out after vast property damage brought on by hurricane season, it can be devastating to you and your family members. That’s where Florida insurance claim lawyers can help.
Experienced lawyers, such as those at the law offices of Florin|Roebig, can go head to head with insurance adjusters on your Hurricane Ian claim or Hurricane Idalia claim to help you seek the compensation you are owed as a policyholder.
Hurricane Milton Update (October 10th, 2024)
Hurricane Milton was a powerful Category 3 hurricane that made landfall in Florida on the night of October 9, 2024, at approximately 8:30 p.m. local time, near Siesta Key. It brought maximum sustained winds of 120 mph and caused significant storm surges, heavy rainfall, and widespread destruction across several parts of the state. The hurricane weakened after landfall, but its impact led to severe flooding, downed power lines, and major damage to homes and infrastructure in affected areas
The Five Most Affected Areas From Hurricane Milton:
Siesta Key:
- Siesta Key’s coastal areas were devastated by severe beach erosion, wiping out significant portions of its famous shoreline. The surge caused unprecedented flooding that buried roads and homes in debris and water.
Sarasota:
- Sarasota faced major damage to its downtown areas, with strong winds toppling historic trees and severe flooding affecting low-lying areas. Its coastal neighborhoods were left submerged under several feet of water.
Tampa:
- Tampa’s waterfront areas were heavily impacted by storm surges, causing flooding that extended into neighborhoods and businesses like Davis Island and Harbor Island. The powerful winds shattered windows and led to widespread roof damage in areas like downtown Tampa, particularly in high-rise buildings near the coast.
Fort Myers:
- Fort Myers was particularly affected by downed trees and power lines, causing road blockages and disruptions to emergency services. The storm’s winds destroyed older homes and structures, leaving many areas unrecognizable.
Naples:
- Naples saw devastating coastal flooding, with waves breaching sea walls and washing into residential areas. The destruction included homes being inundated by storm surge, particularly in upscale waterfront neighborhoods.
The Three Most Affected Areas From Hurricane Helene:
Perry (Big Bend Area):
- Perry, located near the landfall zone of Helene, experienced severe wind damage and storm surge. Buildings were torn apart, and major roads were left blocked by debris. Power outages were extensive, and the area suffered flooding that made recovery challenging.
Tallahassee:
- The capital city of Florida faced widespread power outages, downed trees, and wind damage as Hurricane Helene’s outer bands swept through the area. Tallahassee’s infrastructure, especially power lines and older buildings, suffered greatly due to the high winds, making it a key area for recovery operations.
Tampa Bay Area:
- Tampa Bay was hit with significant storm surge and flooding, particularly in coastal neighborhoods. Clearwater and St. Petersburg were leveled from the storm surges. The damage led to power outages and submerged roads, affecting both residential and business areas as residents returned to find their homes underwater
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How Long Do You Have To File An Insurance Claim After A Hurricane In Florida? (UPDATED August 28th 2023)
According to UPDATED Florida statute 627.70132, Florida residents have up to ONE year (12 months) to file a property insurance claim after a hurricane makes landfall. This is different then Hurricane Ian where you have two years to file a claim.
If your house or business has been damaged by Hurricane Milton or Hurricane Helene, then this is why it’s important to file your claim right away. If you end up in an insurance dispute, you will still have time to fight for compensation if you file the claim immediately. Though it’s important to carry coverage for storm damage, flood damage, and the like, insurance companies may act in bad faith, denying your claim without just cause.
When this happens, it’s crucial to have a skilled Florida hurricane insurance claims lawyer by your side. Learn more during a free consultation today.
When Do You Need Help From An Attorney To File A Hurricane Insurance Claim?
Tropical storms lead to damage so often that insurance claims are commonplace in Florida. However, because these claims are so common, insurance adjusters are cautious in considering every claim and protecting the insurance company’s assets. This means they may look for every reason to deny your claim.
If your hurricane insurance claim was denied but should not have been, you have options. A lawyer can help you seek compensation for damage caused by natural disasters in the same way a personal injury lawyer can help accident victims after car accidents.
That is, you may have to file a lawsuit against the insurance company in order to reach the settlement offer you deserve for the damage caused by the high winds, water, and other hurricane effects.
List Of 6 Tactics Used By Insurance Companies To Deny Hurricane Coverage In Florida
- Telling you that you can resolve the lawsuit without an attorney
- Attempting to take advantage of you by making lowball offers, payments, or estimates
- Delay in processing, adjusting, or paying your claim that is unreasonable
- Denying the existence of insurance protection
- Requiring a signed release of any extra claim before settling or paying you
- Using exclusions and limitations: Insurance companies may use exclusions and limitations to deny coverage for certain types of damage, such as windstorm or flood damage.
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What Factors Can Affect A Hurricane Insurance Payout?
Whether you’re in Tallahassee, Tampa, Clearwater, St. Pete, or elsewhere in the state of Florida, you may be hit by a storm surge. Very few areas are free of the risk of hurricane damage, which is why hurricane damage insurance claims are common in this area.
A number of factors may affect your payout, however, including:
- Your insurance coverage limits: A homeowner’s insurance policy may cover Florida hurricane damage, but the policy may not be great enough to cover the full extent of the damages.
- If your insurance policy lacks the right coverage: You may not have the right type of coverage for the damages you experienced. For example, not all policies provide flood damage coverage, or wind damage coverage. These may be separate add-ons.
- You failed to document the hurricane damages: One of the most-cited reasons insurance adjusters list for denying claims to property owners and business owners alike is lack of documentation or evidence for damages following the incident.
- Insurance company is acting in bad faith: While you may not be able to prove an insurance company is acting in bad faith (denying your claim without a valid reason), trained hurricane damage attorneys in Florida can help you get to the bottom of the denial.
If your insurance claim was denied after a hurricane in Florida, reach out to Florin|Roebig for a free case evaluation and for help with the claims process.
What Will Happen If You Don’t File A Hurricane Claim Right Away?
While you have three years to file a claim for damages after a Florida hurricane, most insurance policies require that you file your claim within one year of a natural disaster, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
Note that if you exceed the limitations of your insurance policy, you may not be able to file a claim at all. This is why it’s important to document the damages, keep track of your spending receipts, and file your hurricane insurance claim as soon as possible.
The longer you wait, the greater the window of time for an insurance adjuster to suggest that damages weren’t caused by the hurricane.
What Types Of Damage Result From A Hurricane?
A number of different types of damages can result from a Florida hurricane. If your home has been affected, be certain to check for all types of damages to ensure you are seeking compensation on your claim for the total impact wrought by the storm.
Common types of damages that result from hurricanes include:
- Wind damage: Normal wind levels are not generally a threat to property owners, but hurricane winds can uproot trees, move cars, and even take the roof or siding off your home.
- Water damage: During storm surges, water levels may rise and engulf the nearest land, leading to damages ranging from flood damage to total losses.
- Flooding damage: In addition to storm surge damage, flooding caused by extended and heavy rainfall from hurricanes can result in flood damage to homes and entire areas.
- Hurricane-induced storm damage: Aside from the hurricane, high winds and other weather conditions wrought by the hurricane can result in tornadoes as well.
But how do these damages affect Florida homeowners? Here’s how the above damages can affect your home:
- Structural damage
- Damage to the foundation
- Damage to the roof
- Utility damages, i.e. water lines, power lines, etc.
- Damage to home equipment, such as heating and cooling systems
- Internal damage, such as to flooring, walls, appliances, and more
List Of 7 Steps To Filing An Insurance Claim After A Hurricane In Florida
Time is of the essence when filing a hurricane damage insurance claim in Florida. To file your claim in a timely manner and give yourself optimal chances of securing a fair payout, follow these steps.
1. Take Photos Of The Damage
Underpaid or denied insurance claims often result from a lack of evidence of hurricane damage. Ensure your claim is approved and offered the full payout amount by documenting the damage. Be sure to assess the full extent of the damages in order to get the most out of your claim.
For example, if you are making a claim with your flood insurance, don’t restrict your photos to the flooring damage, but take pictures of the surrounding walls, outside of the home, and any nearby equipment or affected areas, such as power lines and water systems. Use caution when approaching damaged areas to avoid injury or accident.
2. Write A Detailed List Of Damaged Items
Wondering what your insurance covers for damages? Be sure to catalog the items in your home or on your property that have known hurricane damage, complete with photo evidence. This will serve as documentation for your claim when you submit it. Your full payout, if coverage limits extend far enough, should cover all damaged items.
3. Keep A Detailed Expense Report For Repairs
It’s not always wise to repair your home after a hurricane prior to receiving your insurance payout, but some repairs are unavoidable. If you do choose to make repairs, be sure to keep a detailed account of the repairs you made, photos of the damage before and after the repair, and a full, itemized list of expenses and receipts.
4. File Your Insurance Claim
Once you have assessed and documented everything, be sure to file your homeowner’s insurance claim as soon as possible. Doing so will help cover your bases if you end up in an insurance dispute.
Check with your insurance adjuster to learn how long you have to file a claim.
5. Make Minor Repairs To Prevent Further Damage
On one hand, you may not want to spend the money out of pocket to repair your home prior to receiving a payout. Remember that insurance payouts could take weeks or months to arrive, particularly for hurricane insurance claims with so many policyholders submitting claims at one time.
For this reason, you may need to make some repairs before receiving your payout to prevent further damage to your home. For example, if you do not repair a damaged roof, you could experience water damage to your roof or ceiling during the next storm.
In this case, you may be denied a payout or may only be paid an estimate for the original damage. If you are unsure whether you should make repairs to your home, speak to a representative from your insurance company right away — that way, you have communicated your concerns, and that communication will be documented.
In addition, your insurance company may be able to make recommendations for licensed and accredited companies to work with for repairs. This will help you avoid home repair fraud, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. You may also need to send in your repair estimates to the insurance adjuster before allowing the repairs.
6. Seek An Alternate Place To Live During Repairs
If your home is unfit for living after the hurricane, you may need to find other accommodations during the repair phase. Be sure to keep all receipts for this arrangement, from transportation receipts to hotel or other costs of living receipts, and more.
Insurance policies may cover these expenses under a policy known as living expense coverage, though this only applies if your home is uninhabitable. Speak to your insurance adjuster to learn for certain whether your insurance covers living expenses after hurricane damage.
7. File A Lawsuit To Seek Adequate Compensation
You can do everything right and still not receive the insurance payout you need after tropical storms in Florida. When this happens, you need help from an insurance claims attorney. With the right attorney, you can file a lawsuit against the insurance company to open an investigation of the claims process.
This may be enough to get the settlement offer you need to repair your home. If it’s not, a competent legal team can help you pursue the insurance company in court for the full amount of your insurance claim.
Hurricane damage in Florida can be far-reaching, and you should be able to count on your insurance coverage when it matters most. If you can’t, you can seek help from a qualified attorney who can build a strong case to help you fight for a payout.
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Connect With Florin|Roebig To Find An Insurance Claims Attorney In Florida
Have you suffered a loss after a hurricane in Florida? We may be able to help. The law firm of Florin|Roebig has its headquarters in Florida, which means we’re highly experienced in managing hurricane damage insurance claims with ease.
Our reputation precedes us, with securing more than $1 billion in case awards for our clients to date. And working with us is hassle-free. We receive nothing unless we help you win your case.
Contact us today to get your free case review and get one step closer to seeking the compensation you deserve for the damages wrought on your home.
Here is a list of three free resources if you need help after a Florida hurricane:
- FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
- Website: www.fema.gov
- Phone: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362)
- Description: FEMA offers financial assistance to homeowners and renters affected by natural disasters, covering housing needs and other disaster-related expenses.
- Florida Division of Emergency Management
- Website: www.floridadisaster.org
- Phone: (850) 815-4000
- Description: As Florida’s primary state agency for disaster coordination, they offer resources, information, and recovery efforts for those affected by disasters in Florida.
- Florida’s 2-1-1 Helpline
- Website: www.211.org
- Phone: Dial 2-1-1
- Description: By connecting residents to vital community services, Florida’s 2-1-1 offers support for those in crisis, including resources for post-hurricane home damage.
